Join the fun near Santee. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Santee, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$35 - $140 / night
"This location is a hidden gem in the outskirts of the city."
"We had scoped this out as a wintering location for my snowbird dad, and I always remembered how powerfully silence of that hillside had impacted me... finally camped there- it was lovely!"
$24 - $100 / night
"The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."
"The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity.
Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."
$34 - $38 / night
"I’m not sure you’ll find a campground like this anywhere else in California for $29/night with partial hookups. It was quiet and peaceful. Bathrooms could have used some attention."
"The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room."
$24 - $25 / night
"Nice trails nearby and within the campground. The city of Santee was only 10 minutes away with plenty of stores and restaurants."
"Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."
"Being a native San Diegan The east county location allows for easy access to San Diego sites from two freeways."
"Kids loved the convenient fishing right behind our trailer and the swimming pools a short drive away. Also was able to rent paddle boats to cruise around the lakes."
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+ The gate makes it feel more safe as it's right next to a path by a river, which seemed sketchy at times.
+ During the week it felt spacious.
+ We worked remotely from here and picked up a good"
"Walking distance to stores if something is needed."
$50 - $650 / night
"If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."
"One of best beach campgrounds in California. Beach is right there next to camping. Restroom and shower are clean even though too many people there"
$60 / night
"It sits next to the bay, which is calmer and the beach. I've seen people jet ski, sail, paddle boat, play beach volleyball, and swim, and there are even bonfire pits on the beach!"
"We had 4 campsites all next to each other. The camp hosts were all very nice, they drove around quite a bit making sure all was good. For how many sites they have it didn’t seem too crowded."
$50 - $520 / night
"If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."
"It's classic California beach camping. Spots are fairly close together, and it's more like a parking lot than a campground. That said, the beach is great, and the river mouth is great for surfing."
$65 - $85 / night
"Great choice for camping along the ocean in Southern California."
"Can’t beat the proximity to the beach! Spots next to the road are loud and the campground is busy with small parking lot style areas, but if you can get a spot backing on to the beach, A+."
ScoutWe pulled up and it's anywhere between $6 and $10 to park for the night & it's right on the beach. Beautiful. The public restrooms garbage was overflowing that's the only bad thing about it.
ScoutI gave it one star, not because it is a bad place, but because it is not a campground or an rv park. It is a mobile and manufactured home park with permanent residents and an HOA. You can not pitch a tent there, nor can you pull up an RV and camp for the weekend, or any other length of time for that matter. Nice place to live, but not a place to camp. So, as a campground or RV park, one star because the is no option for zero stars. BTW.. I have lived in Escondido for over 20 years and know the park quite well. Although I have not stayed there, I know for certain that what I am claiming on this review is factual information.
TravelerBeautiful lake with boat, jetski, bicycle, kayak, plus many more Rentals available. Great for fishing, swimming, and boating. Go explore private uninhabited Islands in Lake Perris. A Native American museum of natural history of areas.
ScoutWe’ve stayed here before in their Airbnb camper, this time we brought our own camper and it did not disappoint! The free range animals, creek and play area was all we needed to get back to nature. Like the listing says, sometimes it’s quiet sometimes it’s loud. We always enjoy the sounds of nature so it never bothers us.
ScoutVery cool spot near the harbor. It is a little chaotic trying to find a spot as it’s a first come first serve situation with a lot of people vying for spots and trying to save them for friends. The beach is very crowded but still enjoyable.
They have also raised overnight parking to $50 per night. For me it’s still worth it for proximity to the harbor, but your experience may vary.
GuideThis is a nice place to camp- we stayed one night. stopped at the laguna recreation area visitor center before hand to pick up a free permit. the road was recently paved so it’s easy to drive on, there’s a handful of spots just along side the road, as you go further in the road the views get better- we parked on the side of the road and then walked uphill about 8 minutes to a campsite we liked but there are definitely more where you just camp next to your car. there are more campsite further down the road when it goes back down in the valley but the views end there. we only saw 3-4 other cars the whole time.
ScoutHello, and blessings! I came here with my family for a quick getaway. Campgrounds are clean but tight, we have a 32’ Rv with two slides. Took up most of our hang out room/ porch area. We had to park our second car in the overnight parking lot next to the campground. Costed 20 bucks. If traveling with a shorter rig you can park in front of your rig. Back in only. Water and power hookups only. Dude comes around in the mornings and will clean out your waste tanks for 25 bucks. Or you can dump yourself inside the campground dump station on the way out for 10 bucks. Atmosphere is great, however my neighbors were awesome. Steps away from the beach but was told by a few locals not to swim at the state beach because of sewage contamination from Tijuana in the water. But it’s still beautiful and doesn’t smell and will actually have you guessing if it’s really contaminated. I took the locals word for it. Rainy season is absolute no for water play. Summer, just don’t get the water in your eyes or mouth. But collect as many sand dollars on the beach after high tied as you can carry. Surf fish up to knee high but watch out for the jelly fish. Normal beach play, balls, kites or anything you like to set up on the sand. Ride bikes, eat good food and relax. Swimming is allowed about short walk north in the bay. I would definitely come back for a visit. I came Father’s Day weekend 2025.
TravelerGreat pull thru sites on level concrete pads. Full hookups. Many hiking trails and bicycle trails.
GuideThe good things about this place is, relatively cheap compared to most RV places in the area around San Diego; decent bath/shower rooms + no coins; pool/hottub/gym/gameroom/laundry available; you can walk to some restaurants and a dollar tree Cons on this place would be terrible “dog park” there’s a bit of space but nowhere will you find actual grass for any of the many dogs that are here with their campers; every site is covered in gravel (just not my favorite); a lot of sites are fully exposed to sun throughout the hole day; very little to no privacy here
Camping near Santee, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Santee, CA, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Santee, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 177 campgrounds and RV parks near Santee, CA and 13 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Santee, CA is Lake Jennings with a 4.7-star rating from 32 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Santee, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Santee, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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